Canal de Nantes à Brest

Guipry-Messac (Ille-et-Vilaine, France)

Guipry-Messac is a new municipality in the south of Ille-et-Vilaine, created in 2016 by the merger of the towns of Guipry and Messac. It stretches along the Vilaine River and the Nantes-Brest Canal, offering a landscape where water and bocage (hedged countryside) respond to each other. The territory retains lively town centers, greenways and an active associative life. It is a point of balance between nature, inland navigation and local heritage.

Heritage and history

The two former towns retain traces of their rural and industrial past linked to the river. There are parish churches and old houses that testify to regional architectural developments. The role of the Vilaine in local development remains visible in the quays, former ports and riverside buildings.

Nature and landscapes

The landscape is marked by the calm course of the Vilaine, wet meadows and bocage hedgerows. The banks and towpaths offer easy walks and vantage points for freshwater wildlife. The lights at sunset on the canal are particularly photogenic.

Outdoor activities

The river and the canal allow leisure boating, canoeing-kayaking and fishing. The cycle routes along the canal welcome walkers and cycle-tourists connecting neighboring municipalities. Local associations often offer nature outings and seasonal nautical events.

Not to be missed

• The Nantes-Brest Canal: walk or bike along the towpath.
• The Vilaine: water activities and developed riverbanks.
• The Guipry river port: berths and a riverside atmosphere.
• Messac town centre: local architecture and nearby shops.
• The towpaths: easy walks and viewpoints over the countryside.